Number

116-EN

Section

General Section

Use

Abstract

A company that manufactures sinks and other articles made of stainless steel used to apply a solvent that contained toluene, acetone and methanol. The solvent was used manually to clean the metal surfaces. Due to workers pressure the solvent was substituted with a safer alternative containing propan-2-ol and acetone.

Substituted substances

Alternative Substances

Reliability of information

Evidence of implementation: there is evidence that the solution was implemented and in use at time of publication

Reason substitution

neurotoxicant
physical hazards
CMR

Hazard Assessment

Substances to be substituted: Methanol is: on the OSPAR list of substances of possible concern, neurotoxic cat. 4 (Vela et al.) as listed in the Substance Database according to SUBSPORTplus Screening Criteria (SDSC). Toluene may be fatal if swallowed and enters airways, is a highly flammable liquid and vapour, is suspected of damaging the unborn child, may cause damage to organs through prolonged or repeated exposure, causes skin irritation and may cause drowsiness or dizziness. Acetone is a highly flammable liquid and vapour, causes serious eye irritation and may cause drowsiness or dizziness. Alternative substance: Propan-2-ol is a highly flammable liquid and vapour, causes serious eye irritation and may cause drowsiness or dizziness. Both the substituted and alternative products contain acetone.

Description of Substitution

A company who manufactures sinks and other articles with stainless steel used a solvent containing toluene, acetone and methanol for cleaning metal surfaces. The cleaning process was performed in a cabin that was previously used as a paint booth. The worker carried the sink in a metal cart to the booth and cleaned it. The booth had an extractor in the ceiling; however, there was a risk as the booth was always opened at one side. The worker had to dip a rag into a bucket of solvent, which was also always unconcealed, and cleaned the metal surface by also using lime. Given the volatility of the solvent it dries very fast. Afterwards the worker removed the lime with a dry cloth. The process produced a cloud of powder after the evaporation of the solvent. Workers, worried about the exposure to the solvent and its toxicity asked the union CCOO for advice. At this stage the company decided to substitute the solvent.

Case/substitution evaluation

The most hazardous substances substituted is toluene, which is toxic for reproduction and neurotoxic. The new product contains propan-2-ol, which is less toxic than toluene although it still poses health risks and should be substituted by further investigations..

State of implementation

In use

Date and place of implementation

Spain

Availability ofAlternative

On the market

Producer/Provider

https://www.infoempresa.com/de-de/es/unternehmensbericht/naber-pinturas-y-barnices-sl Naber pinturas y barnices, S.L. http://mivacoatings.com/web/index.php

Type of information supplier

User

Contact

CCOO Valencia Plaza de Nápoles y Sicilia, 5 46003 - Valencia Spain http://www.pv.ccoo.es

Date, reviewed

December 11, 2020